Vlog 376b: Mercia Me!
At the end of the last video, I came to the end of the River Trent at Derwent mouth where it joins the start of the Trent & Mersey canal. In this video, I take the boat onto the canal and up to Mercia marina, where I’d be leaving the boat for a week until I could move it again.
Click here to watch the prior video
Click here for the Wilderness Beaver video
Start point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qBVbPHjcJvY5XCmD6
End point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/96bHFGRrjJiAyVZy9
Hi David, good to see you back on the canal network. It seems to me so much more tranquil compared to the river.
About the plants you encountered, I think they were Indian rhubarb or umbrella plant, in Latin Darmera peltata. They do indeed look very similar to rhubarb but I don’t think they are edible.
Anyhow, enough of the wise guy impersonation. Stay well, cheers, Jobim
Very much more tranquil and very pleasant for it!
Swarkestone Refuse Disposal is now closed – it was so we passed on August 1. (see https://nbalchemy.blogspot.com/2025/08/willington.html)
Also, it is not a great idea to enter locks (especially narrow ones) with fenders dangling on the side. Occasionally you will get stuck doing this where the lock is narrower than usual and equally often, if not more so, a fender is ripped off as you come in or if the flow catches the boat when ascending. As you say, these have a nasty habit of being attracted to props.
Cheers, yes I’m aware it’s not good practice to have fenders down in narrow locks and further on my trip (once I got past the wide section), I do take them up for travel. I prefer them down in wide locks due to the amount of movement the boat undertakes.
Another great video, love watching these !
Thank you!